The Village of Mount Zion was born from faith and a remarkable act of obedience. In 1995, Dr. William “Bill” Sabates, one of Miami’s leading ophthalmologists and founder of the Gables Eye Institute and Gables Eye Surgical Center, felt a call from the Lord to leave behind the medical empire he had built and follow God’s higher purpose.
 

Together with his wife Angie and daughters Cindy and Kristy, he traded city life for the serenity of the Virginia mountains. Guided by faith, Dr. Sabates spent the next three decades creating a breathtaking retreat—five homes, twelve buildings, and five miles of mountain roads—a place designed for rest, reflection, and renewal in God’s presence. Over the years, both daughters raised their families here, filling the village with laughter, love, and the joyful energy of thirteen grandchildren. The memories made among these hills will always be cherished as part of Mount Zion’s heart.
 

Now, as Dr. Sabates enjoys his later years, his daughter Kristy continues the mission he began—restoring the property one house at a time and reopening its doors for retreats, events, and weddings. What started as one man’s faithful step has become a living legacy: a village built on love, family, and the enduring presence of God.